First outing with 4x5": thoughts and a portfolio

[Vieri]

Hello everyone,

After months studying and preparing myself for the move back to analog photography, in early September 2024 my wife and I were ready to hit the road again. This time, after 15 years of doing professional landscape photography with digital cameras, from 35mm to digital backs with tech cameras, I didn’t have one with me. Instead, I was proudly carrying a 4x5” film camera with me, my Arca-Swiss F-line custom.

I wrote an article on my Blog about the experience, sharing my thoughts and a small Portfolio shot in Kent & Sussex, in the UK, which you can find here:

FIRST OUTING WITH 4X5” FILM: THOUGHTS AND A PORTFOLIO

A few photographs here for you to enjoy!

Best regards,

Vieri

 

[cgw]

Nothing beats huge negative real estate.

 

[smoke665]

Beautiful, though I suspect with your skill you'd manage to produce a fantastic shot with a lowly pin hole camera.

 

[Jeff15]

A lovely set of images ...

 

[Vieri]

Nothing beats huge negative real estate.

I love it, such a different feel, compared to digital!

Beautiful, though I suspect with your skill you'd manage to produce a fantastic shot with a lowly pin hole camera.

Thank you kindly, that is truly much appreciated!

A lovely set of images ...

Thank you very much Jeff, happy you liked them!

Best regards,

Vieri

 

[webestang64]

Molto Bella!

 

[Vieri]

Molto Bella!

Grazie mille! Best regards,

Vieri

 

[slat]

Nice shots.

 

[Vieri]

Nice shots.

Thank you very much, Slat, happy you enjoyed them!

Best regards,

Vieri

 

[JoolsW]

Brings back memories of my Arca Swiss 5x4 shooting 5x4 digital using a Phase 1 scan back.

 

[Vieri]

Brings back memories of my Arca Swiss 5x4 shooting 5x4 digital using a Phase 1 scan back.

Wow, that must have been an endeavour! I wonder if you'd be interested in sharing if the back managed to cover the whole 4x5" area, and in case how many shots did you need to cover 4x5"? And how did the system work, did you move it manually or did you have any automation?

Best regards,

Vieri

 

[JoolsW]

Well now, the image size was only a a bit smaller than full frame 5x4. Just one frame/exposure gave minimum 30meg files.(not sure about this... that could be that after photoshopping). It was used in the studio for still life and product shots. It would be impractical for anything else because exposure times were something like 3-4 minutes. (Luckily we had a solid concrete floor so no vibrations during exposures - but I had to keep a lid on my heartbeat when our delicious young front office receptionist passed by!) BUT... the images were just so superb and 'creamy'. You slid the Phase One into the back as you would a film holder and it was tethered by cable to the computer. There was none of the harshness that some early SLR digital sensors gave. We did have software problems from time to time, so the Phase 1 rep was a frequent visitor -Hahaha. I had superb ceiling track lighting and a beautiful camera stand in that studio.
The camera lens was opened and then the phase 1 was 'clicked' via software on the computer - we shot direct to the computer. Can't remember for sure about the taking routine).
The system did give trouble, -it was 'pushing' technology for the time, but it paid for itself many times over. Then when we got the first Nikon digital SLR, it was more cost-effective to use that, but I did miss the beautiful Phase One image quality - and the 'artfulness' of shooting 5x4 on the beautiful Arca Swiss.
(All from slightly suspect memory!)

 

[Vieri]

Well now, the image size was only a a bit smaller than full frame 5x4. Just one frame/exposure gave minimum 30meg files.(not sure about this... that could be that after photoshopping). It was used in the studio for still life and product shots. It would be impractical for anything else because exposure times were something like 3-4 minutes. (Luckily we had a solid concrete floor so no vibrations during exposures - but I had to keep a lid on my heartbeat when our delicious young front office receptionist passed by!) BUT... the images were just so superb and 'creamy'. You slid the Phase One into the back as you would a film holder and it was tethered by cable to the computer. There was none of the harshness that some early SLR digital sensors gave. We did have software problems from time to time, so the Phase 1 rep was a frequent visitor -Hahaha. I had superb ceiling track lighting and a beautiful camera stand in that studio.
The camera lens was opened and then the phase 1 was 'clicked' via software on the computer - we shot direct to the computer. Can't remember for sure about the taking routine).
The system did give trouble, -it was 'pushing' technology for the time, but it paid for itself many times over. Then when we got the first Nikon digital SLR, it was more cost-effective to use that, but I did miss the beautiful Phase One image quality - and the 'artfulness' of shooting 5x4 on the beautiful Arca Swiss.
(All from slightly suspect memory!)

Wow, thank you for that! It sounds like it was a true labour of love... but if the results were worth it, then it was worth it! You mentioned something - the harshness of early digital DSLR - that prompted a reflection. I have been using Phase One in the early 2000 (P45+, P65+), then high end 35mm Nikon DSLR, then Pentax MF (645D, 645Z), then Leica (SL, S Typ 007), then Hasselblad (X1D, X1D II), then back to Phase One with the IQ4 150 Mp (colour first, then Achromatic). Pretty much the best digital 35mm and/or MF I could find at the time.

Along these nearly 2 decades, digital imagery came a long, long way and it's now producing amazing results in terms of details, sharpness, dynamic range, and so on.

Going back to 4x5" film, though, I just noticed how harsh digital still is, compared to large format film. When people asks me about sharpness on film, I always describe it as "gentle sharpness" compared to digital: the photographs are super sharp, but that "edge sharpness" that is typical of digital - and gives it that "harsh" look, for me - it's not there. Same thing for the tonal range - black & white large format film is much "smoother" for lack of a better word.

Thank you for starting an inspiring conversation! Best regards,

Vieri